Saved by my pathetic broadband connection

I thought I was pretty savvy to the dangers of telephone and internet scams but I got caught out yesterday.   The caller said he was a "Windows Support Advisor." I was suspicious and questioned him as to  why he was calling and how he had my telephone number. He said that my details were registered  when I bought my computer and that they contacted Windows users when they received 5 error reports. My windows applications had been corrupted by a virus and he needed to guide me through the process of repairing the damage.

Still suspicious, I followed his instructions and clicked on computer management and saw warnings where he said I would and accepted that this was a genuine call. He told me to highlight certain items in the list and delete them. I tried but wasn't able to delete them and he told me to open Internet Explorer so that he could help me directly. Fortunately for me, broadband in rural areas is poor and using my landline disrupts the internet connection. I couldn't get online. I asked the advisor to call me on my mobile but he said he wasn't allowed to do that but gave me a number to call him back on. Again, fortunately for me, the reception was poor and I said I would get help from someone else and rang off.

This is what I discovered when I rang PC World's TechGuys:

Microsoft do not have your personal details

Microsoft never call you

If I had managed to get online the bogus caller would have either gained access to my passwords etc or got me to download a virus

I will no longer complain about my BT Total Broadband that is anything but! I was saved by its inefficient technology.

Beware the lastest email scam

I received a series of emails today from an American blogger that I've been friends with for several years via the internet. These emails claimed that this friend was in London and had all her money and papers stolen. She needed money to pay the bill and buy a new ticket back to the States, where she would refund my money immediately.

No, I didn't fall for it either but I sent her an email to warn her that her ID had probably been stolen. The scammers intercepted that email and a message that I posted on her blog and sent more emails saying "It really is me." I replied to one of them (mistake!) saying she should contact the US Embassy and got an immediate reply that she had tried and they would replace her passport but not cash.

I checked with the embassy myself and this scam is doing the rounds. Don't be fooled - the embassy staff will help any US citizen who is in trouble. What is concerning though is that the scammers can get into someone's email account.

If anyone gets an email purporting to be from me, begging for money, don't reply to it. I promise that it won't be genuine.